Not sure if I should stay in school

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  1. Stay, take a year, or drop out?

    • 7
      Stay
    • 2
      Take a year off
    • 1
      Drop out and leave nursing behind

10 members have participated

Hello, I'm feeling pretty stuck right now and would like some feedback on what others have felt. When I applied to nursing school, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do as a career so I applied. I ended up getting in on my first try(rarely happens in my area apparently), and decided that that was fate pushing me in that direction. I ended up really enjoying my first year but in between first and second my dad passed suddenly. I decided to continue with the program without taking any time off and am now halfway through my second semester of my second year. However, I have began to realize I don't have that passion that so many people seem to have for nursing. I like the patient interaction but hate the schooling side of it. I feel like nursing is important and needs to be done and therefore I should stay. But my dad was always a proponent of doing a job you enjoy since you will be spending so much time in your life doing it. So that mentality is pulling me away, thinking I should drop out. My real passion is animals, painting and writing but it's it's not a stable job and therefore didn't go Tag route career-wise. Also, I've always been responsible. I'm 21 have never some drugs, don't drink, go to bed at 10 pm, exercise, don't break any rules. I feel like that side of me pushed me to continue to go through school instead of take time off.

TL;DR, I think I might be going through a quarter life crisis, halfway through my RN degree with no passion for nursing. I enjoy it but am not in love with it.

My question for those who have stuck through is: should I push on with nursing until I graduate hoping these feelings pass, take a year off to try and take some time to myself, or drop out completely and find a new path?

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am now halfway through my second semester of my second year.

Most nursing programs are 2 years following the completion of pre-reqs. Thus the way you have written your post, the reader would assume that you are 1/2 way though your final semester (if a traditional 4 semester program)... Do you graduate in May? Or when do you graduate...

You may receive better advice if your finish date were part of the equation.

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Hi. I'm also in my second year, halfway through the semester like you (my program is 4 years, I'm not sure if yours is the same or not).

It it seems like right now you've got a lot going on, and with your dad passing away recently (I'm sorry for your loss), things can't be easy.

From my point of view it definitely seems like you need a bit of a break to figure out what you want to do, and to deal with the things going on in your life. My suggestion is finish the semester, and then (again no idea how long your program is) take a year off if you're able to. Spend time writing, doing art, doing the things you enjoy, and spend time with family and friends. If in a year you decide that you want to go back to nursing school, awesome; if not, that's awesome too. You have to do what's right for you, and right now it seems like that means taking some time off and focusing on what's important to you.

The only reason I suggest finishing the semester is because if you do decide to go back, it'll be a lot easier starting at the beginning of 3rd year rather than repeating classes you've already been a part of.

Whatever you decide, take care and do what feels right for you.

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This is not something others should be answering for you. And maybe that is part of the problem, you don't seem to be able to know how to decide for yourself what you should do..

I can say this, that not everyone who loves a nursing career loved the schooling aspect of it. But it is a career that demands you to have some sort of passion since it is demanding, hard work, and not something done for money or because you don't want to let anyone down.

I'm sorry for the loss of your father. Take some time to find yourself.

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Specializes in ER.

Stay. You can enjoy and fund your passions with nursing. I lost my Mom while in nursing school, don't let that trauma derail your hard earned success. You're more than halfway through!

Maybe 10 years down the road you'll reassess your life and make a career change, but meanwhile, finish what you started!

So sorry for your loss, if you are struggling with that, see a counselor or pastor.

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I graduate in December so I'm about halfway through my RN. I had 4 best friends. Last semester one went to graduate school out of state, two got married, and one committed suicide. My whole world changed in the course of about two months. I tell you this so that you know I have an idea about what you're going through.

I have only three comments, no answer.

1. You are being a fool to say in one moment "I'm putting on a mask" and then point to everyone else's passion as though that's valid evidence that they have something you don't. Can you not see the irony of assuming you're the only one?

2. You don't have to love all of it. What do you love? Is there a little niche you can carve out of the massive profession that you will like?

3. This is last but certainly not least. Don't believe the lie that the goal is to find your passion and then you will go into work everyday with a light heart and a smile on your face. It is a bold faced lie. Passion is fleeting and if you chase it you'll end up lost and lonely. Find something you get purpose out of and then spend hours and hours practicing your craft until it flows out of you and then ride the waves of passion as they come and go.

If you want to know more about what I'm saying I can share a few people with you who've inspired me that you can listen to.

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Former zookeeper turned RN here. I spent twenty years working in the animal field, so just some practical advice on that.

If you want to work in the animal field, and feed yourself, you need a 4 year BS degree. There are a ton of low paying jobs that don't require a degree, but you can't make ends meet without working 50-60 hours a week.

Competition for good paying jobs is stiff, and while I agree it is important to like your job most of the time, especially when it requires a lot of hours, "passion" will only go so far. For me personally, it wasn't enough.

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